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Checking Delta-Unvaccinated most at risk
“The biggest risk to the world at the moment is simply Delta,” said microbiologist Sharon Peacock, who runs Britain’s efforts to sequence the genomes of coronavirus variants, calling it the “fittest and fastest variant yet.”
Viruses constantly evolve through mutation, with new variants arising. Sometimes these are more dangerous than the original.
Virus variant and disasters strike strain global supply chains
Events have conspired to drive global supply chains towards breaking point, threatening the fragile flow of raw materials, parts and consumer goods, according to companies, economists and shipping specialists.
The Delta variant of the coronavirus has devastated parts of Asia and prompted many nations to cut off land access for sailors. That’s left captains unable to rotate weary crews and about 100,000 seafarers stranded at sea beyond their stints in a flashback to 2020 and the height of lockdowns.
COVID-19 antibodies present in patients four months after recovery – study
An editorial that accompanied the study cautioned that it is unclear if recovered patients’ antibodies will protect them from reinfection.
However, it suggested that antibody tests may be a cost-effective alternative to infection testing alone, and may work better in surveying populations as countries look to safely reopen their economies and schools.
Steroids cut death rates among critically ill COVID-19 patients, major study finds
“Steroids are a cheap and readily available medication, and our analysis has confirmed that they are effective in reducing deaths amongst the people most severely affected by COVID-19,” Jonathan Sterne, a professor of medical statistics and epidemiology at Britain’s Bristol University who worked on the analysis, told the briefing.
Everyone could be a carrier: Covering coronavirus pandemic in rural India
Infections in India now total over 3.5 million, rising from two million in just over three weeks – the third highest number of coronavirus infections in the world. The disease is rampant in rural India, where people often have to rely on the most basic health facilities.
India leads global rise in new weekly COVID-19 cases,while deaths down: WHO
Overall global new deaths in the past seven days fell by 3% compared to the previous week, the WHO reported, adding that overall new infections around the world rose by 1.8 million.
The respiratory disease is also spreading in the Americas, which continues to account for more than half of reported cases and deaths worldwide, although there have been slight decreases in some areas, WHO said in its latest update.
Peru, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina have seen “increasing trends”, it said.
COVID-19 tally in India climbs to 36,91, 166
The COVID-19 case fatality rate has further declined to 1.77 per cent.
There are 7,85,996 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 21.29 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
India’s recovery to take time after economy shrinks 24% in June quarter
Some private economists, however, said the fiscal year that began in April could see a contraction of nearly 10%, the worst performance since India won independence from British colonial rule in 1947, and likely to push millions more into poverty.
Google, Apple roll out built-in COVID-19 exposure notifications to phones
The new system – called Exposure Notifications Express – will allow public health officials to submit a small configuration file to Apple and Google. The two tech companies will then use the file to set up systems that phone owners can opt in to in order to determine whether they have been near someone who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus
Small the new big for hotels post-pandemic, says Oyo CEO
“Small hotels are going to be in vogue. In my view, small is going to be the new big, wherein people will rethink a lot about going back to that 1,000-room hotel versus going to a 40-room niche hotel.”
78,512 new COVID cases in India,971 deaths
There are 7,81,975 active cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country, while 27,74,801 people have recovered. The total coronavirus cases rose to 36,21,245, it said.
The recovery rate has increased to 76.62 per cent, while the fatality rate has declined to 1.78 per cent.
Suspension of scheduled international passenger flights extended till Sept 30
“However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis,” noted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a circular.